Diagram 2 — How a Vote Moves Through the System
In-person and mail paths run in parallel · Both converge at the county
← Back to Systems & Vote Flow
BEFORE THE ELECTION — SHARED FIRST STEP
Voter Registers → Added to Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS)
Maintained by the state · Used to verify identity at polls and process mail ballots
IN-PERSON PATH
MAIL / ABSENTEE PATH
STEP 1 — POLLING PLACE ARRIVAL
Voter arrives · E-Pollbook check-in
Poll worker locates voter in e-pollbook (synced to SVRS) · Marks voter as having voted · Prevents double voting
STEP 2 — BALLOT ISSUANCE
Voter receives paper ballot
Option A: Hand-mark paper ballot with pen
Option B: Use Ballot-Marking Device (BMD) for accessibility — BMD prints a marked paper ballot
STEP 3 — PRECINCT TABULATION
Voter feeds ballot into precinct optical scanner
Scanner reads and counts the ballot immediately
Results stored on encrypted memory card · Overvoted ballots returned to voter · Running total on display
STEP 4 — CLOSE OF POLLS & TRANSPORT
Polls close · Memory card sealed & transported
Bipartisan team removes memory card from tabulator · Sealed in tamper-evident package
Transported to county election office under chain-of-custody · Verified by bipartisan county staff
STEP 1 — BALLOT REQUEST & DELIVERY
Voter requests or receives mail ballot
VBM states mail automatically · Other states require application · Ballot arrives with return envelope
STEP 2 — VOTER MARKS & RETURNS BALLOT
Voter marks ballot · Signs outer envelope
Returns via USPS, authorized drop box, or in person · Deadlines vary by state
Signature on outer envelope is critical — it is the verification mechanism
STEP 3 — COUNTY PROCESSING
Signature verification · Ballot prep
Sig. on envelope matched to voter file · If mismatch: voter notified to "cure" their ballot
Once verified: outer envelope opened · Ballot separated (voter identity and vote kept separate)
STEP 4 — CENTRAL COUNT TABULATION
Ballot scanned on central count tabulator
High-speed scanner at county facility · Results fed directly to county EMS
ES&S DS850, Dominion ImageCast Central, Hart Verity Central are common central count systems
both paths converge ↓
COUNTY — ALL RESULTS COMBINED
County EMS Aggregates All Results → Canvasses → Reports to State
Precinct + mail + provisional · Reconcile voter count vs. ballot count · Unofficial results released